A man who confronted a suspected terrorist accused of murdering MP Sir David Amess said he warned him “we’re not in America, we’re in England mate” after the alleged killer claimed he wanted to be shot dead by police.

Darren King spoke to knife-wielding Ali Harbi Ali after he fatally stabbed Sir David at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in October last year, a court heard.

Mr King said he asked Ali if he was going to drop the blood-stained weapon but he replied: “I want to be shot”, a jury was told.

As it happened: Live updates from day three of the Sir David Amess murder trial

The witness’s evidence to police was played at the Old Bailey where Ali is standing trial accused of Sir David’s murder and preparing acts of terrorism.

The 26-year-old denies the charges against him.

Mr King, who had arrived to meet Sir David with his partner Yvonne Eaves, said he saw two women running towards him as he approached Belfairs Methodist Church where the surgery was being held.

One woman was in tears and said: “There’s a man in there. He’s got a knife and he’s stabbed David,” the witness told police.

Mr King said he went into the building “to see exactly what was happening” and saw Sir David “crumpled” on the floor and another man holding a knife.

Mr King said the knifeman threatened to stab him and spoke about Syria and the Iraq war and “the innocent people who died over there”.

After the attacker said he wanted to be shot dead, Mr King said he told him: “We’re not in America, we’re in England mate.”

Mr King said Ali was holding a phone and the witness could hear the knifeman’s sister “screaming” and she sounded “hysterical”.

“I said: Why do you want to die? You’re talking to your sister – how’s she gonna feel if you die?” Mr King told police.

“He said: I’m gonna be a martyr, I’m gonna die a hero.

“And I said: No, you’re just gonna be dead, mate.”

Mr King said two police officers in plain clothes and carrying “truncheons” arrived and told the attacker to “put the effing knife down”.

The witness added: “With nothing on me (weapons), I was just trying to calm him down.

“Then your boys turned up, problem solved.”

Earlier, witnesses told the court that Ali had a look of “self-satisfaction” after stabbing the MP to death and gave the impression he had “achieved something”.

Julie Cushion, who was Sir David’s constituency assistant and “close friend”, said she heard a “piercing scream” and “froze in the moment” after a colleague revealed the MP for Southend West had been attacked.

She became emotional in the witness box as she told how Rebecca Hayton “came running towards me screaming that David had been stabbed”.

Asked how Ali looked after the MP was stabbed, Ms Cushion said: “Self-satisfaction is how I would describe it.”

During a police interview played to the court, Ms Hayton told officers she was in the room with Sir David when Ali said “sorry” and allegedly stabbed him “straight in the stomach”.

She told police: “David screamed, and sort of panicked.

“I think he stabbed him again.

“I could see David screaming.”

She added: “I saw (the knife) go in once and as I got up (Ali) kept going.”

Ms Hayton said Ali had been “smiling” during the meeting with Sir David, adding: “He seemed relaxed and nice.”

In a video interview with police, Ms Eaves told officers that Ali gave the impression that he had “achieved something” after the stabbing.

She told the court: “He wasn’t remorseful, he wasn’t like: ‘Oh my god’.

“He’s like: ‘I’ve achieved something.'”

Ali, wearing a black robe, sat in the dock during Wednesday’s hearing flanked by three security officers.

Screens were put up in court which meant the witnesses could not see the defendant, or anyone sat in the press benches, during their evidence.

The trial continues.

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